Once you have completed the process of obtaining your license as a childcare provider, you still have work to do.
Minnesota has strict and specific rules in place to ensure the health and safety of children. The three below frequently come up as reasons for not getting relicensed.
1. Stay within capacity
Depending you the type of license you have, you must stay ensure you follow the limits regarding the number of children in your care. For example, a solo provider with a Class A license may have 10 children under the age of 11. That number includes any of your own children under 11. Newborns, infants six weeks old and younger, play a key role in ratio and capacity. A solo caregiver may only have one newborn from another family and only two other children over 12 months old.
2. Complete ongoing training
Minnesota requires licensed providers to complete 16 hours of training every licensing year. This training helps reinforce the rules and keeps people up-to-date on child development, behavior and learning. Additionally, you must take specific classes regarding sudden unexpected infant death. You can expect to have to attend a face-to-face class one year and watch videos the subsequent year.
3. Maintain constant supervision
Taking care of children requires a lot of patience and multitasking. No matter how busy the day seems to get, the rules state that must position yourself to see or hear any infant, toddler or preschooler at all times. Additionally, you need to make yourself available to assist school-aged children.
If you love taking care of children, following the rules will help ensure you maintain your license.